Jerry T. Yates
Jerry Yates hails from the very farthest, northwestern corner, of the Blue Ridge Mountains, of North Carolina. The little community, where Jerry is from, is called Fleetwood. It sits on the banks of the New River, and is about ten minutes away from the home of, possibly the world\'s greatest guitar flatpicker, Doc Watson. Jerry\'s grandmother, and the father of popular NBC celebrity, Willard Scott, were sister and brother, which makes Jerry and Willard cousins. After hearing Jerry perform in a local Church, Willard commented, \"Your musical contribution to the service made me proud to be able to call you my cousin.\"
Yates said that he was \"tremendously influenced by Elvis!\" He said, \"It was 1956, and I was four years old. My family had waited all day, to see Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show. I can still remember it! When Elvis came on, banging that guitar and singing, moving, and slinging his hair around, like he did, I was, at that very instant, ruined for life.\" Johnny Cash and Creedence Clearwater Revival\'s, John Fogerty, also had a major impact on Jerry\'s musical life.
The first public performance for Jerry, was a seventh grade talent show. He said, \"I played my guitar and sang, \"On the Wings of a Dove,\" and I didn\'t even know it was a gospel song! The night before, I watched \"Shindig\" to get reved up for my own performance.\"
After his high school graduation, Jerry entered the field of Radio Broadcasting, where he was a DJ, music director, and eventually, general manager. During his radio days, he began performing as an Elvis impersonator, which gained him many fans, as well as a fan club. He also began playing the Honky Tonk and Juke Joint circuit around the South, but in 1975, he gave his life to Christ, and was called to preach, in 1978.
Ordained in 1982, Rev. Yates began pastoring a Church, and later formed a Christian, Southern Rock Band called, \"Jerry Yates and Rock Solid Revival.\" However, feeling a strong pull by the Holy Spirit, he left the band for a solo, music ministry.
Today, Jerry Yates Ministries operates out of the Newnan, Georgia home of Jerry and his wife Karen. Jerry has been nominated for several awards, and is a recipient of the International Country Gospel Music Association\'s, \"New Male Vocalist of the Year\" award, from Georgia. He is a singer/songwriter and acoustic guitar player, who has written and recorded many songs, several of which received enough radio airplay, to make it to various Christian Country and Country Gospel radio charts, including a chart in the U.S. Gospel News publication. Some songs have climbed into the top ten. His latest song,\"There\'s Peace From the Lord\" released in January, 2007, debuted at #14, on the Roots Music Association\'s, Roots Music Report. As of January, 2008 , \"There\'s Peace From the Lord\" has been in or near the top twenty for 50 weeks! Also,The Georgia Roots Radio Airplay Chart, of the Roots Music Report, had Jerry\'s \"There\'s Peace From the Lord\" at NUMBER ONE, ahead of several big name secular artists! \"There\'s Peace From the Lord\" held the NUMBER ONE SPOT for both the months of April and May of 2007, on the Georgia Roots Radio Airplay Chart!
During the first week of August, 2007, Rev. Jerry Yates was added to the European Country Music Association\'s Chart, which is probably the largest airplay chart in the world, containing over 2400 names. Jerry entered this tremendous chart at # 90!
\"Following Jesus is a great adventure; you never know where He will take you next\" Jerry said. So far, Jesus has taken Jerry and his music ministry to Paris, Texas, Chicago, Ill., where he performed at the Illinois Pavilion, The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, in Nashville Tennessee, The Texas Troubadour Theater, in Nashville, as well as churches, coffeehouses, restaurants, and other venues in Alabama, North Carolina, and all over the State of Georgia. Jerry has also made several television appearances, including a performance on Atlanta Live, TV57!
Rev. Yates feels a strong conviction and commitment to go anywhere, to any Church or venue, regardless of size, and even to events and functions, such as family reunions, picnics, and house concerts.
We realize that inviting someone you do not know, to come minister in song or Word at, or for your church, can be risky business. Therefore, here is Jerry Yates Ministries\' Statement of Faith:
1. We believe in the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of both Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety, as the only written Word of God, without error in all that it affirms, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ,in His virgin birth,in His sinless life, in His miracles,in His vicarious atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of God the Father Almighty, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live an obedient life.
6. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ, and that the Church, the Body of Christ, is God\'s institution.
Comments from some who know, have worked with, or have heard Jerry Yates perform live, or who have listened to music from some of his CDs:
\"The music of Independent Artist Jerry Yates is really good and stands out from the crowd. His voice and musicianship are certainly up to snuff by today\'s industry standards.\"
Chad Shoppa
Singles and Charts Coordinator
Christian Radio & Retail Weekly (CRW)
\"Jerry is a songwriter; a Christian with a vision to share the Gospel in word and song. He has a rich, baritone voice that portrays a style of his own. If you like Country, you\'ll love Jerry\'s music!\"
Gene Higgins, President
Christian Country Music Association
\"Jerry is one of the finest and most talented singer/songwriter/evangelists I know...From the first time I met Jerry, his personality, warmness, and realness drew me to him...\"
W.C. Taylor, Founder
Country Gospel Music Guild
\"Rev. Jerry Yates is truly a God-Send to uplift the sad, and bring joy to the broken hearted. His ministry is so neat, so refreshing, and most of all, original! His voice is powerful when he speaks, though he is very humble in his demeanor! He is an excellent singer, songwriter, and guitar player. He has many ways to reach the lost and dying, in his incredible ministry!
I have served in ministry for twenty-five years, as a pastor, music minister, and youth pastor! I have been ministering God\'s word with the Good News Trio for over ten years! I said that to say this: through these years of traveling up and down the roads, all over the Southeast, I have never met anyone quite like my dear brother, Jerry Yates! Your church should invite this wonderful man of God into a service, and just sit back and watch God use him to reveal Jesus, in a way you have not seen before!\"
Max R. New
LaGrange, Ga. 30241
Ph# 706-882-6938
goodnewstrio@hotmail.com
www.goodnewstrio.com
Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, through the Country/Rockabilly/Blues music of Jerry Yates!
Jerry Yates Ministries
www.indieheaven.com/artists/jerryyates
www.jerryyatesministries.com
www.myspace.com/jerryyates
jkyates@bellsouth.net
(770) 252-9176
Jerry\'s radio promotion is managed by RhonBob Promotions;
2657 Myers Drive
Kodak, TN 37764
www.rhonbob.com
RhonnieS@aol.com